When: Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2015Where: Foothill College Dental Hygiene Clinic (Room 5312)Time: 5-6:30 p.m.
No reservations required; just be sure to bring $3.00 for a parking permit, if you are not currently
taking classes at Foothill this quarter.

New technology is rapidly changing the field of dentistry.
For example, computerized dental equipment can take up-close views of the inside of a patient's mouth and immediately print the image for the patient.
Digital dental x-rays do not require processing with messy liquids rather the image can be seen on a computer monitor within seconds of the exposure.
Titanium implants can be used to replace missing teeth, which are stronger and more stable than dentures or removable partials.
Along with the rapid changes in dentistry, there is also a great demand for qualified dental assistants to work with the dentist, dental hygienist and dental technician to deliver dental care in a caring and skilled manner.
The Foothill College Dental Assisting Program offers a balance of academic, laboratory and clinical courses to prepare our students to work in this rapidly changing field.
Thank you for looking into the dental assisting program, the program faculty have many student success stories and would be happy to share them with you or to answer any questions that you may have.

About the Dental Assisting Program

Program Description

The Foothill College Dental Assisting Full-time Curriculum is an intensive ten month sequence of instruction, with entry only in the Fall quarter.
Included in the program are extended functions of coronal polishing and ultrasonic scaling as well as a x-ray certificate.
Students who complete the entire program in a satisfactory manner will be awarded a Career Certificate in Dental Assisting and will qualify for the California State Registered Dental Assisting Examination.
Only thirty full-time students are admitted in the program each Fall. Part-time admittance is limited depending on available space.
All qualified students will be contacted for an orientation and notified of their acceptance.

Program Mission

The mission of the Foothill College Dental Assisting Program is in accord with the mission of the Foothill-De Anza Community College District.

The purpose of the dental assisting program is to educate students who will positively impact the oral health status of the community. This education will include courses in the basic, social and dental sciences, liberal arts and public health with emphasis on the clinical aspect of the dental assisting practice. This education will provide the student with a foundation to pursue life long learning.

Orientation Information

School schedule

The Foothill College Dental Assisting program is a rigorous ten month program for full time students. Full time students should expect to be in school from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm every day. There are times when classes are held earlier than 9:00 am or later than 5:00 pm.

It is difficult to work while attending the program. Students who work usually have flexible job schedules or work only during the weekends.

Social functions, work responsibilities, and other personal appointments must be scheduled outside of class time. Attendance is closely monitored as that the dental assisting program is preparing its graduates to be successful employees in the dental workforce. Poor attendance or tardiness will result in dismissal of the student from classes.

How hard is the program?

The Foothill College Dental Assisting program is a rigorous and intensive program. Every year many students mention the fact that going through the program is a lot harder than what they thought it would be like. Multiple tests can be given on the same day. Cumulative midterm and final exams are given for many classes to help prepare the students to successfully pass difficult state and national written and hands-on licensure examinations.

Certification and licensing

Career Certificates are awarded to students who complete all of the courses with a "C" grade or better as outlined on the front page of the blue curriculum sheet. Dental assisting students can take national and state licensing examinations once he/she is awarded the certificate.

Dental assisting students are allowed one grade of "D" in the core dental assisting courses (the "D" grade must be remediated). A grade if "F" will result in dismissal from the program. Dental assisting classes occupy a majority of the day. If the full time student needs to take required courses for the certificate such as English or math etc., those classes may have to be taken in the evening while attending the program.

Required courses such as English and math can be taken after completion of the core dental assisting courses, however, this will delay the awarding of the certificate.

Math and English requirements

Required courses other than the core dental assisting classes are eligibility for
English 110 (or equivalent) or for ESLL 25 (or equivalent) and and eligibility for Math 220. Students can
take the Foothill College math and English placement tests to "pass out" of
the reading and math requirement. DeAnza English and Math assessment tests are not
transferable. Students who have taken English or math courses at other colleges need
to check with the Dental Counselor, Ms. Brenda Johnson, to see if those courses meet
the requirements.

Student kit and fee

The student kit is purchased through the ULCA Health Sciences Store. The kit consists of a dental x-ray film, tooth models, and other materials that the dental assisting student will be using throughout the year. Fees for the student kit will be paid upon delivery of the kit at the beginning of each quarter. The fee estimate in the dental assisting application is only an estimate and the actual fee may be higher or lower.

Purchase of the kit is mandatory and no substitutions from outside sources can be made.

Uniform

Students are required to wear a uniform when attending all classes.

Students are required to wear surgical scrubs and white uniform shoes as designated by the dental assisting program. Students are responsible for purchasing their uniform before Fall quarter.

Clinical rotations during Spring quarter

In Fall quarter (September to December), the dental assisting students have a clinical rotation in private dental offices on Thursdays for 4 hours a week. This clinical rotation helps the student understand the many concepts of dental procedures introduced in Fall quarter.

In Winter quarter (January to March), the dental assisting students have a clinical rotation at the University of California, San Francisco School of Dentistry. This rotation will occur on Tuesdays and Thursdays. All dental specialties such as periodontics, oral surgery, prosthodontics, orthodontics, and children's dentistry, are taught to dental students and residents at the UCSF School of Dentistry. The dental school teaches state-of-the art dental procedures and materials which provides a thorough introduction to dentistry to the dental assisting students.

In Spring quarter (April to June) the dental assisting students have a clinical rotation in private dental offices on Tuesday and Thursday. The Foothill College Dental Assisting program has contracts with private dental offices in the community surrounding Foothill College. This area is the mid-peninsula area (Mountain View, Redwood City, Palo Alto). Students in the Foothill College Dental Assisting program will need reliable transportation to his/her clinical rotation in this area. Hardship cases e.g. no car, child care time deadlines are considered on a case-to-case basis and need to be brought to the attention of the clinical supervisor. All attempts will be made to accommodate special requests.

Student conduct

The primary goal of the Foothill College Dental Assisting Program is to prepare students to successfully work in a private dental office in a diverse cultural, socioeconomic, and ethnic environment. Teamwork is emphasized and students who are admitted into the dental assisting program are encouraged to work together with other students during laboratory sessions. The instructor often arranges lab partners and changes are not acceptable. Therefore, students should make an effort to get along with all of the students. We do not expect everyone to be friends but the student should be at least civil to each other.

Students are not only required to work together but will also be working in the mouth of other students for certain procedures. This close and personnel working relationship can be unpleasant if students do not get along with each other.

Radiology and Coronal polishing requirements

Dental assisting students are required to provide their own patients to take full mouth and bite wing x-rays. X-ray patients will be needed during the months of January to June. Students should recruit their friends and family members now as that bite wing x-rays can be taken only once a year and full mouth x-rays can be taken only every 3 to 5 years.

During the months of April to June, the dental assisting student will be learning how to polish teeth and will need two patients with a minimum of 15 teeth. Coronal polishing patients must have their teeth cleaned prior to polishing. The cleaning should be completed between the months of March or April. Coronal polishing patients should get their teeth cleaned by their private dentist or can go to the Foothill College Dental Hygiene Clinic. Cleanings are $30.00, however, appointments must be made well in advance. Cleanings in the dental hygiene clinic will take from 2 to 4 appointments and the appointments are 4 hours in length. The patient should not expect to leave early unless otherwise told so.

Physical examinations

All students must complete a physical examination before the starting the program. Standard forms are used and will need to be completed and filled out by a physician. Medical examination forms are due the first day of school in September.

Hepatitis B antibody, tuberculosis, a rubella test, and other vaccinations or proof of vaccinations must be performed by your physician and a copy of the lab results must be attached to the form.

Students who have a positive tuberculosis skin test must have a chest x-ray and clearance from their physician prior to attending a clinical rotation.

Hepatitis B vaccination

All students should consider vaccination against Hepatitis B. The vaccination can be obtained from the Foothill College Student Health Center. Students can also obtain the vaccination from his/her private physician. The vaccination is a series of three injections. The second injection is give one month after the first injection and the third injection is given six months after the first injection.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)

All students must take CPR. Students can call either the local American Red Cross ("CPR for the Professional Rescuer"), or the American Heart Association ("Healthcare Provider") for classes. It is the student's responsibility to accomplish this certification before the start of Fall quarter (September).

Note: If for some reason the student decides not to attend the dental assisting program, please notify the director, C. Miyasaki, (650) 949-7351 as that there will be students on a waiting list.